Apple opts for a $95 million settlement over privacy breaches tied to Siri, sparking a profound dialogue on data security across the industry.
At a Glance
- Apple settles a lawsuit for $95 million over Siri privacy violations.
- Siri allegedly recorded users without consent, sharing data with third parties.
- The settlement affects millions of Siri device users; there is the potential for payouts up to $20.
- The case awaits final approval and includes legal fees in millions.
Siri Privacy Lawsuit Settlement
Apple has agreed to a $95 million settlement to resolve accusations of violating user privacy through its Siri voice assistant. The lawsuit claims Siri inadvertently recorded private conversations and shared this information with advertisers without consent. These alleged violations occurred over a ten-year period following the “Hey, Siri” feature’s introduction.
While Apple denies any misconduct, the company has acknowledged past missteps involving Siri recordings. Eligible class members, expected to number in the tens of millions, may receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device if they provide an affidavit confirming recorded conversations.
Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a proposed class action lawsuit, accusing the company of violating user privacy due to recording conversations after accidentally activating Siri. By @MalcolmOwen
— AppleInsider (@appleinsider) January 2, 2025
Legal and Financial Implications
This settlement awaits sanctioning by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White. If approved, the financial blow will include $28.5 million in legal fees for the plaintiffs and $1.1 million in litigation expenses. Despite Apple’s massive profits, this settlement amount equates to approximately nine hours of the company’s earnings.
“As a result of our review, we realize we haven’t been fully living up to our high ideals, and for that we apologize,” Apple said in 2019.
Additional safeguards are also part of the agreement. Apple must publish guidelines on how users can control Siri’s functionalities and ensure old recordings are permanently deleted. Interestingly, this case mirrors another ongoing lawsuit against Google, underscoring a wider issue in the tech industry.
Apple to pay $95 million to settle Siri privacy lawsuit https://t.co/jXz57KS3Sq
— Yahoo Finance (@YahooFinance) January 2, 2025
Looking Forward: Siri’s Future
Despite the legal challenges, Apple is committed to Siri’s evolution. An advanced AI-powered version of Siri, promising capabilities like “on-screen awareness” and understanding of “personal context,” is set to debut next year. Apple’s senior vice president, Craig Federighi, describes these enhancements as “entering a new era.”
These ongoing initiatives suggest an industry trend towards improving transparency and user autonomy over personal data. As technology becomes increasingly intertwined with personal and confidential user data, the demands for compliance with privacy standards will likely intensify.
